I have plenty of optics that were on AR's that aren't being used.
Neub question...
- Thread starter Painkillers
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I have plenty of optics that were on AR's that aren't being used.
Okay, if you don't need irons then your options are good. The options that are currently available all take Glock magazines, in 9mm, and priced $900-1300. They are all straight-blowback actions, and they all do the same thing mechanically speaking.
Do you want ambidextrous layout? Last round bolt hold open? Are you willing to tinker in order to get it running right if it's stuttering?
Do you want ambidextrous layout? Last round bolt hold open? Are you willing to tinker in order to get it running right if it's stuttering?
No need for an ambi layout...I even insist traditional RH controls on my 1911's. Last round bolt hold open is a must and I personally hate "tinkering" with guns. Let me clarify. I enjoy making accuracy improvements to guns, trigger honing, grip improvements, optic/sight improvements, what have you. However, to have to "tinker" with a gun to get it to operate (undergassed etc.), I have to fight the urge not to smash the stock against the nearest tree inside of 20 FTF rounds.
Good to know. Based on this, I'm seeing a Ruger PCC as your top contender at this point. There's a pretty solid argument for the FX-9, but people seem more likely to have issues with them than with the Ruger.
But before you whip out the credit card based on this invaluable (okay, free) advice, you should really try to handle one or both before you buy. Some people dislike the handling of the Ruger, and that's not something you can change by swapping parts.
... or perhaps learn that frustration presents an opportunity for recognition of areas in one's own education and skills set, from which one can decide to learn more. Something as simple as different bullet weights or powder loads between commercial 9mm ammunition types (there are what, hundreds?) can present too wide a range of impulse energy at the bolt face for any manufacturer to accommodate all of them in one design and setup. A carbine which cycles 115gr +P loads all day might choke up on 147gr subsonics, causing FTE/FTF and quickly becoming frustrating simply because of a given user's ammunition choice. That's not the gun's fault. You wouldn't expect a 50cc scooter to haul a 300lb man up a steep hill, nor a 100ISO film to capture high speed action at night without a flash. Yet so many coming to blowback carbines expect them to function perfectly every time no matter their ammunition choice. Strikes me as representative of ignorance regarding the basics of engineering more than any fault of the manufacturer.
When I bought my TNW ASR, I'd already ordered a length of tungsten rod to put into the buffer weight to slow down cycling, and had a Strike Industries flatwire AR spring in hand before the carbine got to my door as I knew from others' experiences that the supplied roundwire spring would likely cause failures to eject with my preference for 147gr subs. A bit of work boring out the buffer weight and adding a couple of ounces with the tungsten, swapping out the spring, and presto, cycles perfectly every time. Bit more time polishing the trigger and slightly modifying the sear and I had the 3lb crisp trigger I wanted, where the factory trigger had been a mushy mess - but with $840 cost of the carbine being ridiculously cheap for something well designed and machined using high quality materials, I wasn't complaining.
But hey, that's me! I was a machinist long ago, and a bicycle mechanic before that. Been a violinmaker for decades since. As my son says, I can fix just about anything. So tackling firearm functional improvements isn't really difficult, more a fun little side hobby, same as with airgun building before. Not everyone is interested in learning how to make things better. My first girlfriend actually left me primarily because I insisted on improving everything, where she thought store bought stuff was good enough... and, well I didn't think she was quite good enough, with her self-image issues and eating disorder... so yeah, I tried to fix her too. As I did with my wife over 22 years. Failed in both those attempts, as things are easier to fix than people who don't want to get better. So I'll stick to tinkering with my guns and fiddles and whatever. And you just go right ahead and buy something absolutely perfect for you out of the box. And when it breaks, take it to someone who has taken the time to learn, and pay them adequately for their services, and your laziness.
When I bought my TNW ASR, I'd already ordered a length of tungsten rod to put into the buffer weight to slow down cycling, and had a Strike Industries flatwire AR spring in hand before the carbine got to my door as I knew from others' experiences that the supplied roundwire spring would likely cause failures to eject with my preference for 147gr subs. A bit of work boring out the buffer weight and adding a couple of ounces with the tungsten, swapping out the spring, and presto, cycles perfectly every time. Bit more time polishing the trigger and slightly modifying the sear and I had the 3lb crisp trigger I wanted, where the factory trigger had been a mushy mess - but with $840 cost of the carbine being ridiculously cheap for something well designed and machined using high quality materials, I wasn't complaining.
But hey, that's me! I was a machinist long ago, and a bicycle mechanic before that. Been a violinmaker for decades since. As my son says, I can fix just about anything. So tackling firearm functional improvements isn't really difficult, more a fun little side hobby, same as with airgun building before. Not everyone is interested in learning how to make things better. My first girlfriend actually left me primarily because I insisted on improving everything, where she thought store bought stuff was good enough... and, well I didn't think she was quite good enough, with her self-image issues and eating disorder... so yeah, I tried to fix her too. As I did with my wife over 22 years. Failed in both those attempts, as things are easier to fix than people who don't want to get better. So I'll stick to tinkering with my guns and fiddles and whatever. And you just go right ahead and buy something absolutely perfect for you out of the box. And when it breaks, take it to someone who has taken the time to learn, and pay them adequately for their services, and your laziness.
Sure it is. The Magpul backpacker stock set makes for a significant change in handling.
In my humble opinion and I have owned a few PCCs...the FX9 is lovely for a number of reasons, not the least of which is easy takedown/cleaning, great weight and ergonomics (the weight is a bigger factor for me than I thought), compatibility with Glock magazines, easy on the eyes, and decently accurate. It seems to get much more dirtier due to the blowback system, but cleaning is a breeze. Only two caveats for me is with relation to the last round bolt hold open - it is hit and miss (mostly miss) with the OEM Glock native ten rounders, and the LRBHO seems to go off by itself - I have somewhat rectified that by taking it apart and manually elongating the spring, which seems fairly weak to begin with. I have taken it to every range outing except for today and that's only because I recently picked up something new. But next it will be back in my range bag.
Good point, this is a feature really worth thinking about as well. All of the most common PCCs in Canada are straight blowback actions, and much dirtier than what most people are used to with centerfire firearms. Especially if you're going to shoot it a lot.
Yup...and as a point of comparison - the bolt assembly on the FX9 can be removed from the gun after takedown in under 20 seconds, with subsequent easy firing pin removal. The FX9 is just two (really one) push pins to push out for regular cleaning.
Contrast that to the Ruger PC Carbine. You need to take it apart in two pieces - easy), but then a tool is needed to remove the 2 x hex bolts (which apparently are normally torqued to 65 inch/pounds - both of mine have started to strip) to separate the receivers, not to mention the charging handle needs a tool to remove. Then it's the shock buffer removal (and if it's the factory one there's the plastic clip that can easily bend/break, in order to get to the bolt. Neither of my other PCCs take down even remotely close the efficiency of the FX9.
Another reason I chose TNW. Zero reports of cracked bolt carriers, cracked receivers, and such a wide-open receiver with its dual ejection ports (swappable from right-handed to left-handed ejection by swapping a couple of parts) and very easy tool-free takedown for cleaning, kinda made it a no brainer. In terms of trouble-free use even when filthy, the Beretta CX-4 Storm had first position on my list for a while. Apparently they run incredibly reliably, and takedown for cleaning is easy, but the way the two main parts come apart bothered me as it was more like dismantling the gun than a proper takedown design, hence moving the TNW to the top of the list. A lucky choice for me considering the CX-4 got banned... though I expect they'll ban the TNW any month now.
Back in your hole!!
The Ruger is pulling ahead...I'll take some the sage advice and shoot a few boxes with one before I la down any cash.
Thanks fellas.
It's certainly a popular choice. A good friend liked his first one so much he bought a second. Has them set up differently, one with a dot sight, the other a compact scope. No reliability issues with anything he's fed them. Being a bit front-heavy is his only complaint, but he likes how easy that makes them to hold steady, and he's a strong guy so not a problem.
Don't see any mention of the 9mm IWI x95 or B&T GHM9.
JRC is reliable and soft-shooting but ergonomics are super meh. And it needs tools to strip down for cleaning.
The FX9 has great ergos, but reliability varies from gun to gun. Mine needed some modifications to be reliable. Before that it was a frustrating jammer.
The Ruger is reliable until one of the known weak points fails. Get the MCarbo upgrades on day one, and enjoy. I do find them barrel heavy, especially the tacticool version. IMO it's the best value out there.
The TWN ASR had one of the worst reputations for jamming in the history of shooting sports. Gerard speaks highly of his, so it looks like they may have sorted them out. I want one in 10mm.
The best (most reliable, most dependable, best ergos, Glock mags etc) we can currently get in NR form is probably the B&T GHM9.
JRC is reliable and soft-shooting but ergonomics are super meh. And it needs tools to strip down for cleaning.
The FX9 has great ergos, but reliability varies from gun to gun. Mine needed some modifications to be reliable. Before that it was a frustrating jammer.
The Ruger is reliable until one of the known weak points fails. Get the MCarbo upgrades on day one, and enjoy. I do find them barrel heavy, especially the tacticool version. IMO it's the best value out there.
The TWN ASR had one of the worst reputations for jamming in the history of shooting sports. Gerard speaks highly of his, so it looks like they may have sorted them out. I want one in 10mm.
The best (most reliable, most dependable, best ergos, Glock mags etc) we can currently get in NR form is probably the B&T GHM9.
I'd disagree, mildly. I don't think TNW sorted much out, though apparently there were minor tweaks to production after the first year or two. Mine is extremely reliable thanks to having done my homework and sorting out firstly what sort of ammunition to standardize (147gr - shoots, ejects, and feeds at least 6 different brands reliably, from about 980fps up to 1,130fps), then accommodating the operation of the firearm to suit that load. Had I been wanting to shoot lighter, faster loads I'd have done things differently. Like most of my airguns, the TNW presented a nice starting point, which after some modification became something I can trust to work well. My Pardini K12 air pistol is amazingly accurate and reliable... but for the money I paid, it had better be. If there were a PCC equivalent available in Canada, I'd likely have bought that. I do enjoy fine workmanship and engineering from the factory which needs no further work... it's just a rare thing these days.
357 Henry Model X Lever
